River of Flowers – An opportunity to reflect

River of Flowers – An opportunity to
reflect The River of Flowers will return
tomorrow (February 22, 2013) to provide communities with the
opportunity to reflect on the last two years and look
forward to the future.

Michelle Whitaker, Healthy
Christchurch coordinator, says that the inaugural River of
Flowers event was held last year on the first anniversary of
the February 22nd earthquake.

“Last year thousands of
Cantabrians threw flowers into waterways across
Christchurch. The event provided a great opportunity for
people to connect with each other and share their
experiences and hopes for the future,” Ms Whitaker says.

Ms Whitaker says there was lots of suggestions and
interest from the community in hosting River of Flowers
sites.

“A unique feature of the River of Flowers is that
it is driven by each local community. This year community
organisations have identified 15 sites along the Avon,
Heathcote, and Liffey rivers and at the estuary to hold
commemorations.”

Evan Smith from the Avon-Otakaro
Network (AvON) says that the River of Flowers acknowledges
the importance of rivers and waterways in Christchurch.

“Two years on from the February quake, it is still
vital to recognise the importance of Otakaroro to the
wellbeing of our communities. In fact even more so now with
the lower Avon at such a very low ebb – it is time for the
tide to turn and to restore the river back to full health
again and our communities with it,” Mr Smith
says.

Between 8am and 8pm on February 22, 2013 people will
be able to drop flowers at hosted sites along Christchurch
rivers and at the estuary. From 12.30pm to 1.30pm local
community groups will host the sites and encourage people to
write messages on a Tree of Hope. At 12.51pm two minutes
silence will be held.

At least seven schools will be
attending the various sites along Christchurch waterways.
Pipe bands will also be playing Amazing Grace at the
Botanic Gardens Site and the New Brighton Site (Owles
Terrace) immediately after the moment of silence at
12.51pm

The
River of Flowers commemoration project is led by Healthy
Christchurch and the Avon-Otakaro Network (AvON), and
supported by CERA, CanCern, the Canterbury District Health
Board, the Mental Health Foundation, One Voice Te Reo
Kotahi, the Council of Social Services, and Moffatts Flower
Company.

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